After the kids get off school or the weekend before, comes down the day after New Year's Day. In Poland where I come from you always put it up on Christmas Eve and it tends to stay on throughout January, once we had ours til Easter as it was very fresh (we cut it from the forest ourselves) and it did not drop any needles.

Sounds like ours! Here in Germany decorations go up on the first Advent, so that was yesterday, but I haven't put any up yet. We did get the first snow over night though so might put up some window lights this afternoon.

I havent put my tree or lights up yet, its a bit early I reckon (I would be sick of the sight of it by xmas), but I can see why people want to brighten the place up a bit when its cold, dark and horrid weather outside. First one in my street went up 25th Nov ....that would just do my nut in!!

I think my tree might go up about 16th Dec....then promptly come down again about 3hrs later once the new cat realises how much fun he can have climbing it !!! This is going to be great fun (for him)!

Christmas Eve, of course! I'll probably buy the tree in a couple of weeks though and just keep it outside in the woodstore until time. It comes down on 12th night and goes back into the woodstore, this time in pieces.

AliBear - that is a great photo - what a cute cat . This is what I have to look forward to - my rescue cat will be 2 next Feb, and this is his first Christmas with me ! He is always up the trees in the back garden, so this will be in-house winter entertainment for him!

The last weekend before x-mas, like every year. I too am a "non-believer" but Christmas has evolved as a festival and is all-inclusive as far as i'm concerned. The church stole it from Pagans and then the rest of us joined in the fun.

So far, Mr Higgs has stolen, in this order: four chocolate coins, two small baubles, one large parcel-type decoration and one round shiny bauble to 'kill later' ! Not bad puss, but you aint supposed to eat chocolate!!! All deccies now moved up to the higher branches!!!

Previously bookmarked threads are now visible in "Followed Threads". You can also manage notifications on these threads from the "Forum Settings" section of your profile settings page to prevent being sent an email when a reply is made.

Runner's World is a publication of Hearst Magazines UK which is the trading name of The National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved. Runner's World, Part of the Hearst UK wellbeing network